Trail Bike Adventure Magazine

Luke George returns to racing

Sunday, 17 January 2010 16:41

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:0 2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> All Pro Lites riders in Australia best beware! Their day may be getting a whole lot worse with the news that young gun Kawasaki rider Luke George is making his comeback to racing this weekend. 5 months on since a horrific crash that nearly claimed his life, 2008 MX Lites Champion Luke George is competing on a 2010 Kawasaki KX250F in his first race meeting since the accident, at the Lakes SummerX this Sunday 17 January at Lake Macquarie, NSW.

Fighting to retain his MX Lites crown at the final round of the 2009 Championship at Coolum in August, Luke crashed heavily in the final moto and suffered head injuries that were serious enough to put the Champion in a coma for 5 days. Since waking, Luke’s progress and rehabilitation have been nothing short of miraculous, with Luke going from strength to strength in a very short time, thanks largely to his high level of physical and mental fitness.

Now, just over 5 months since the accident, Luke is not only back on a bike, he’s about to line up at the starting gate and race again. Luke is making sure that he’s not rushing his return to racing though. Luke has received all necessary medical clearances to compete and even delayed his return to riding by 6 weeks after getting the all clear to get back on a bike.

Luke says, “I’ve been waiting for this weekend for 5 months now.”

“It was a big injury that I had and as far as my comeback goes I wanted to do everything right. All the doctors who had anything to do with me are just speechless at the progress I’ve made. But even though doctors told me towards the end of last year that I could get back on a bike I made a personal decision to wait a bit longer. I had nothing to gain and everything to lose by rushing to come back.”

“I’d like to thank everybody who’s supported and helped me for the last 5 months, especially the Brain Injury Unit in Newcastle. I really can’t thank them enough.”

“Everything feels really really good. To tell the truth it feels like I’ve never been off the bike. It all feels just like before. I’m still not planning to set the world on fire when I go out there this weekend but I’m just so happy to be doing what I love.”

“I’m also really excited to be riding the 2010 Kawasaki KX250F this weekend. It’s been feeling great so far and I can’t wait to put it through its paces in a race.”